Clothes protector for ironing boards



United htates Patent 9 CLOTHES PROTECTUR FOR IRONING BOARDS LeuisCamhanis, Sewickley, Pa.

Application July 9, 1957, Serial No. 670,766

3 Claims. (Cl. 38-111) This invention relates to an ironing board, andmore particularly to a clothes support or protector for use withanironing board.

The object of the invention is to provide a support member which isadapted to be mounted below a conventional ironing board whereby clotheswhich are being ironed will be prevented from coming in contact with thefloor so that soiling of the clothes will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes protector foruse with an ironing board, wherein the clothes protector includes aplatform which is mounted on wheels so that it can be readily moved fromplace to place as desired, and wherein the platform is supportedconveniently above the floor so as to provide suflicient clearance orspace for a persons feet to extend thereunder, the clothes protector ofthe present invention further including a plurality of hingedly mountedgates or wall members which form an enclosure for the clothes so as tocatch the overhanging clothes to prevent such clothes from becomingdirty or soiled while being ironed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes protector foran ironing board, wherein the clothes protector is extremely simple andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame. Figure l is a side elevational view showing the clothes protectorof the present invention being used with an ironing board.

ceived in the device 14 so as to prevent such clothes from touching theiloor and becoming dirty.

The end portion 18 of the platform 15 is provided with a rectangularslot 19 which extends inwardly from an outer edge thereof, and there isfurther provided a rectangular recess 20 which communicates with theslot 19. The recess 20 is adapted to receive the legs 11 as for exampleas shown in Figure 3 so that with the legs 11 engaged in the recess 20,the legs cooperate with the recess 21) to form a lock whereby accidentaldisengagement or movement of the clothes protector 14 is prevented.However, the elongated slot 19 permits the clothes protector 14 to bereadily disengaged from the ironing board 10 without having to lift thelegs 11 off of the floor when the device is not being used.

Arranged around the outer edge of the platform 15 and secured theretoand extending upwardly therefrom, is a plurality of spaced apartbushings 21, and securing elements such as eyelets 22 extend upwardlyfrom the bushings 21 and are secured thereto. There is provided aplurality of gates or wall members 23, 24, and 25 which are pivotally orhingedly connected to the securing elements 22. The wall member 23 mayhave a substantially rectangular formation and extends along one side ofthe platform 15, Figure 2, while the wall member 24 is shaped arcuatelyand is arranged adjacent one side of the rounded portion 13, the wallmember 24 conforming substantially to the adjacent surface of theportion 18. The other wall member or gate 25' includes a major portion26 of rectangular formation and a rounded portion or section 27 whichconforms to the configuration of the portion 18 of the platform 15. TheWall members 23 and 24 are spaced apart from each other as shown inFigures 2 and 3, for example, so that the legs 11 of the ironing board11 can readily move through the space and into and out of engagementwith the slot 19 and recess 21). An opening 28 is arranged in the frontend of the platform 15 so that when the device is not being used, theopening 23 can be arranged in engagement with a nail or the like so thatthe clothes protector can be conveniently supported in an out-ofthe-wayposition. As shown in Figure 5 for example the various wall members canbe pivoted on the securing elements 223 from the solid line positionshown in Figure 5 to the broken line position shown in Figure 5 wherebythe parts will occupy a minimum amount Figure 2 is a top plan Viewshowing the clothes protector in operative position with respect to theironingboard. 7

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of t Figure 3. a itFigure'S is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3. i

#Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates aconventional ironing board which includes the usual legs 11 and 12, andtop piece or board 13.

The present invention is directed to a clothes protector or supportwhich is indicated generally by the numeral 14, and the clothesprotector 14 includes a horizontally disposed base or platform 15. Aplurality of caster Wheels 16 depend from the platform 15 and areconnected thereto.

The platform 15 includes a major rectangular portion 17 and a roundedend portion 18, and as shown in the top plan view of Figure 2, theportion 17 is wider than the top piece 13 of the ironing board 10whereby the clothes which are being ironed will be caught or re- 6 is.an enlarged sectional view of a bushing and securing element for theclothes protector.

of space for storage or the like.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided aclothes protector which is especially suitable for use with an ironingboard such as the ironing board 10. In use, when clothes are beingironed, the lower portion of the legs 11 is adapted to be received inthe recess 211 as for example as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the slot19 communicates with the recess 211 so as to provide a means whereby thelegs: 11 can be moved into and outof. therecess 26. With the legs 11extending through the recess 2%, it will be seen that a lockingarrangement is provided between the device 14 and the ironing board-1t}so. that accidental separation or move ment of these members isprevented. When the clothes protector 14 is being used, the variousgates 23, 24 and 25 are adapted to be moved to their upright or raisedposition, as for example as shown by solid lines in Figure 5. Then, whenthe clothes are being ironed, the overhanging portions of the clothingwill be received in the protector 14 and the gates or wall members 23,24 and 25 will co-act with the platform 15 to define an enclosure whichwill hold the hanging portions of the clothing therein so that suchclothing will not touch the floor whereby soiling of the clothes isprevented. The caster wheels 16 serve to maintain the platform 15 raisedslightly above the floor so that sufiicient clearance is providedbeneath the platform whereby a persons feet can extend into the spacebeneath the platform 15 so that the person can iron comfortably. Whenthe device is not being used, the wall members 23, 24 'and 25 can bepivoted inwardly and the entire device can be removed or disengaged fromthe ironing board 10 and then if desired the device can be suspendedfrom a nail or the like which may be arranged in engagement with theopening 28. i

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

The wall member 24 is curved, and the front portion 27 of the wallmember 25 is also curved whereby these parts will conform inconfiguration to the platform 15. When the wall members are in theirupright position, the protector is in the form of a basket which servesto catch or receive the ends of the clothing being ironed or worked on.The device of the present invention will prevent the clothes fromcontacting the floor when such clothes are being ironed and with thepresent invention it is not necessary to use newspapers or the like onthe floor and wherein the device occupies a minimum amount of space whenit is being used. In use, the clothes protector is adapted to bepositioned under the ironing.

board with the wall members or gates closed, and then the device isarranged so that the legs 11 extend through the recess 20 and then thewall members or gates are opened so that the device is ready for use.Also, the

rollers or casters 316 permit the device to be readily moved from placeto place as desired; A suitable border strip or edging may be arrangedaround the outer periphery of the platform 15 as desired. The wallmembers are mounted in such a manner that when they are in the solidline position shown in Figures 4 and 5, the wall members will remain inthis position so as to form an enclosure or basket-like device forcatching the overhanging clothes. The platform 15 may be made of solidconstruction, or else it may be provided with a plurality of openingstherein.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention, I reserve allrights to such modifications as properly fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a clothes protector for use with an ironing board of the typeincluding a top piece and front nd rear legs, a horizontally disposedplatform, said platform being wider than the top piece of said ironingboard, said platform including a major portion of rectangular formationand an end of said platform being rounded, the rounded portion of saidplatform having a transversely extending rectangular shaped slottherein, said slot extending inwardly from a side edge thereof, therounded portion of said platform also having a rectangular shaped recesstherein communicating with said slot and extending rearwardly from saidslot, said recess being arranged intermediate the ends of said slot andsaid recess and slot adapted to receive the front legs of the ironingboard therein, a plurality of spaced apart bushings secured to saidplatform adjacent the outer edge thereof, securing elements extendingupwardly from said bushings, a first wall member pivotally connected tocertain of said securing elements and extending along one side of theplatform, a second wall member of arcuate formation pivotally connectedto other of said securing elements and spaced from said first wallmember, and a third wall member pivotally connected to the remainingsecuring elements and including a main straight section and a frontcurved section.

2. In a clothes protector, a horizontally disposed platform, saidplatform including a major portion of rectangular formation and an endof said platform being rounded, the rounded portion of said platformhaving a transversely extending rectangular shaped slot therein, saidslot extending inwardly from a side edge thereof, the rounded portion ofsaid platform also having a rectangular shaped recess thereincommunicating with said slot and extending rearwardly from said slot,said recess being arranged intermediate the ends of said slot, aplurality of spaced apart bushings secured to said platform adjacent theouter edge thereof, securing elements extending upwardly from saidbushings, a first wall member pivotally connected to certain of saidsecuring elements and extending along one side of the platform, a secondwall member of arcuate formation pivotally connected to other of saidsecuring elements and spaced from said first wall member, and a thirdwall member pivotally connected to the remaining securing elements andincluding a main straight section and a front curved section.

3. In a clothes protector, a horizontally disposed platform, saidplatform including a major portion of rectangular formation and an endof said platform being rounded, the rounded portion of said platformhaving a transversely extending rectangular shaped slot therein, saidslot extending inwardly from a side edge thereof, the rounded portion ofsaid platform also having a rectan'gular shaped recess thereincommunicating with said slot and extending rearwardly from said slot,said recess being arranged intermediate the ends of said slot, aplurality of spaced apart bushings secured to said plat form adjacentthe outer edge thereof, securing elements extending upwardly from saidbushings, a first wall member pivotally connected to certain of saidsecuring elements and extending along one side of the platform, a

' second wall member of arcuate formation pivotally con nected to otherof said securing elements and spaced from said first wall member, athird wall member pivotally connected to the remaining securing elementsand including a main straight section and a front curved section, saidwall members being mounted for movement into and out of a horizontal andsubstantially vertical position, the rounded portion of the platformhaving an opening therein adjacent the outer edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS172,051 Paul Jan. 11', 1876 886,685 Eastman May 5, 1908 2,486,628 BakerNov. 1, 1949 2,548,751 Till Apr. 10,1951 2,564,627 Rauscher Aug; 14,1951 2,580,120 Mooney Dec. 25, 1951 2,639,522 McCann May 26, 1953

